Vehicle-spring construction



Feb. 21, 1928.

J. WOOD VEHICLE SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 24, 1926 INVENTOR cfl. [0000 BY Maia.

ATTORNEYS- Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,659,798 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO WALTER A. SCOTT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

VEHICLE-SPRING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed September 24, 1926. Serial No. 137,552.

My invention relatesto improvements in vehicle spring constructions, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a vehicle spring construction which permits the axle to move out of vertical alignment with its normal position to compensate for the longitudinal tension, thereby reducing motion.

A further object of my invention is to pro- .vide a device of the type described in which pressure is equalized on all the springs in the movement of the device in all directions.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide a device of the type described which obviates the need of shock absorbers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be well lubricated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the movable parts are completely enclosed for preventing dust or the like to accumulate thereupon and interfere with the,operation of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is durable in construction, compact in form, and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will'appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will Joe particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a vehicle chassis, parts thereof being shown incsection,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device in operation, and

Figure 3 is a section substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my lnvention, I make use of a vehicle/chassis having a frame 1. The

frame is provided with a downwardly ex tending rear portion 2 and a bracket 3. The

chassis further consists of a rear axle 4 hav-.

ing an integral flange 5. Rear wheels 6 are disposed upon the axle 4. p

I rovide a casing 7 which is provided with a bottom portion 8, end walls 9, and an open top. The bottom portion 8 is provided with a downwardly extending cup portion 10 which has transversely extendin inner walls 11. Upon the lower end of idle cup portion 10 and integral therewith is a flange 12 which is disposed upon the flange 5 and rigidly secured thereto.

The end walls 9 are provided with inwardly extending lugs 13. Slidable cam blocks 14 and 15 are disposed in the casing 7 and are provided with outwardly extending lugs 16 and 17. Compression springs 18 each have one of their ends disposed concentric with the lugs 13, and their free ends disof the casing 7. A compression spring 25 is disposed between the bottom of the rectangular opening 23 and the pin 24 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A cover plate 26 is removably secured to the top of the casing 7 and is provided with an opening 27 sufliciently large to receive the angular cam 21. Rubber stop members 28 are disposed upon each end of the cover plate 26. A flexible shield 29 is disposed concentric with the angular cam 21 and has its edges secured to the top cover 26 and to the lower portion ofv the frame 1.

A resilient leaf spring 30 has one of its ends secured to the end 2 of the frame 1, and the other end pivotally secured to black ets 31 which are rigidly secured to the sides of the casing 7. A leaf spring 32 is provided having one of its ends secured to the bracket 3 and the other end pivotally secured to brackets 33 which are rigidly mounted upon the side Walls of the casing 7. An oil connection 34 is disposed in communication with the cup-shaped portion 10 for supplying oil or other lubricants to the inner portion of the casing 7. The flange 12 is provided with an outwardly extending portion having an opening 35 therein. WVhen the device is used on trucks or tractors, a-brace rod is provided having one end thereof mounted at 35 and the other end secured to the bracket 3.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. When a vibrating movement is applied to the device as when driving over cobblestones, the pressure is applied to the springs 18 which are laterally disposed, thus preventing vibration of the frame 1. When the pressure is applied to the casing 7, the casing is moved upwardly, due to the amount of pressure applied thereto, causing the surfaces 19 and 20 of the slidable cam blocks to move upon the transversely extending surfaces of the angular cam 21. In this manner, the cam blocks 14 and 15 are moved outwardly against the tension of the springs 18. When the casing moves into its normal position, a rapid rebound 1s prevented by the COll spring which increases its tension as the casing nears its normal position.

If the rear wheels B'should strike a raised portion, such as that indicated at X in Figure 2, instead of jarring the entire vehicle, the axle, together with the wheels, is permitted to move rearwardly with respect to the frame 1 and against the tension of the springs 18. In this manner, the casing 1 is tilted at the angle shown in Figure 2. As 1 the casing moves into this position,

the angular cam 21 engages with the camblock, 15 at the lower position thereof, and with the cam-block 14 at the upper portion thereof. In this manner, the cam blocks 14 and 15 are forced outwardly against the springs 18. It will be observed that, independent of the position at which the angular cam '21 engages with the cam blocks 14 and 15, equal force will be applied to each of the blocks and to all of the springs 18.. If the casing 7 should be tilted at an extreme angle, the rubber stop members would engage with the frame 1. It will be observed that during the movement of the casing 7 in a direct up and down movement or a tilted movement, the force will be a plied to the springs 18 and to the ends of t e casing 7. This prevents the vibrating movement of the axle from moving or vibrating the frame 1. F

The casing 7 is filled with a lubricant and the casing may be further supplied with a lubricant through the oil connection 34, The cup portion 10 is kept filled with a lubricant, and as the casing moves upwardly, the an gular cam 21 extends into the. cup-shaped member 10, thus forcing a portion of the lubricant around the cam blocks 14 and 15 and between the cam blocks and the-angular cam 21. Therefore, by movement of the easing, the parts are automaticallylubricated.

The flexible shield 29 is adapted to move with the casing 7, completely surrounds the angular cam 21, and keeps dust or the like from the cam 21 and the inner portion of the casing 7.

The spring 25 limits the speed of the axle and the casing in their movement into normal position. It will be observed that as the axle and easing move intotheir normal position, the tension of the spring 25 is gradsprings disposed in said casing between said cam blocks and the end walls of said casing, an angular cam carried by said frame and disposed betweensaid cam blocks for forcing, said cam blocks outwardly against the tension of said springs when said wheels I strike an obstacle, and means carried by said angular cam and said casing for limiting the speed of said axle and said wheels in their return to normal position.

2. Thecombination with a vehicle having a frame, an axle, and wheels mounted upon said axle, of a casing having end walls and a cup-shaped portion adapted to hold a 111- bricant, means for permitting a lubricant to. be forced into said cup-shaped portion, cam blocks slidably disposed in said casing, springs disposed in said casing between said cam blocks and the end walls of said casing, an angular cam carried by said frame and disposed between said camblocks for fore ing said cam blocks outwardly against the tension of said springs when said wheels strike an obstacle,- and means carried by said angular cam 'and said casing for limiting the speed of said axle and said wheels in their return to normal position, said angularcam being adapted to project into said.

cup-shaped portion and a lubricant therein .for lubricating said cam blocks.

JOSEPH, E. wool). 

